Washington (CNN) – The last time Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, was on Capitol Hill he was known best as the chairman of the House Budget Committee and as a popular member among rank and file Republicans for leading the charge for major spending cuts and advocating a dramatic Medicare overhaul.

But Ryan, now the GOP vice presidential nominee in a tightly contested national race, will return this Thursday to an institution whose popularity is at record lows with the American people.

House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy told reporters Monday Ryan would be back in Washington to vote on the "continuing resolution" that funds the government through March - the one "must pass" measure Congress is expected to approve before the election.

A Romney campaign official confirmed Ryan would be back on Capitol Hill Thursday.

That six month spending bill, negotiated by leaders from both parties this summer, keeps the government funded at the level agreed to in last summer's debt deal - $1.047 trillion. But that's not the number Ryan supported earlier this year. After vocal criticism from a bloc of conservative House Republicans that the deal didn't cut spending fast enough, Ryan introduced a budget that moved the overall spending level about $20 billion lower, to $1.028 trillion.

That budget passed the House, but was immediately rejected by Senate Democrats as violating the bipartisan debt deal. Ryan supported that bill last August.

Asked how Ryan would vote this week on the funding bill, McCarthy initially told reporters he expected Ryan to support it, but when pressed about the spending level, he said he had indications his GOP colleague would vote for it, but he couldn't speak for other members.

An aide to Ryan did not respond when asked by CNN if the congressman planned to vote for the six month spending bill.

soundoff(34 Responses)

enough

Oh, you mean the cliff that he helped create while he served congress, the past 4 years? Obama didn't do anything alone, Ryan. Remember that.

September 11, 2012 12:44 am at 12:44 am |

Squigman

I wonder how blow eyes will vote. Oh yeah, he'll always come down on the side of stick it to those with less, while pandering to those with the most. That's where he got the money to run for office, he'd better lick the hand that fed him.

September 11, 2012 12:59 am at 12:59 am |

michael

Ryan is not obstructing??? A miracle has happened!!! Ryan voted for something. The boggest obstryctionist in conress is actuall voting yes.

September 11, 2012 01:02 am at 1:02 am |

John Oboho

He's returning to lead the obstructionists.

September 11, 2012 01:06 am at 1:06 am |

GI Joe

NONE of them know what they are doing, nor do they care. As long as what they vote for can allow them to walk out and say "Obama, Bad', that's all that matters. NOT US and definitely not the USA.

September 11, 2012 07:59 am at 7:59 am |

Al-NY,NY

Go ahead Eddie Munster......vote with T-B'ers against what is a needed piece of legislation. You're toast already so I guess voting against the people's interest won't hurt you any more

September 11, 2012 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

khfghjmjhg

@ least he is pretending to do somthing which is actualy nothhing–you go boy–go get them for the john birch society–go get em–

September 11, 2012 09:25 am at 9:25 am |

glenview0818

When are the Dems going to realize that the candidates they put in office do not do anything they promise. The teacher’s unions put all of their moneys into the Dem side. It would have been much smarter to give both sides money; even the NRA gives 17% to the Dems. Time for the teachers unions to get smart, but better yet, time for the teachers to get rid of the unions and create a professional organization that really represents them, and not blue-collar workers.

September 11, 2012 09:30 am at 9:30 am |

Khaleeshi

How can anyone believe a word that comes out of Lyin Ryan's mouth? The lies are non-stop.